Mental disorders, comorbidity, and pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers in the U.S. army: Results from the army study to assess risk and resilience in servicemembers (Army STARRS)

Matthew K. Nock; Robert J. Ursano; Steven G. Heeringa; Murray B. Stein; Sonia Jain; Rema Raman; Xiaoying Sun; Wai Tat Chiu; Lisa J. Colpe; Carol S. Fullerton; Stephen E. Gilman; Irving Hwang; James A. Naifeh; Anthony J. Rosellini; Nancy A. Sampson; Michael Schoenbaum; Alan M. Zaslavsky; Ronald C. Kessler

doi:10.1111/sltb.12153

Mental disorders, comorbidity, and pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers in the U.S. army: Results from the army study to assess risk and resilience in servicemembers (Army STARRS)

Matthew K. Nock^*, Robert J. Ursano, Steven G. Heeringa, Murray B. Stein, Sonia Jain, Rema Raman, Xiaoying Sun, Wai Tat Chiu, Lisa J. Colpe, Carol S. Fullerton, Stephen E. Gilman, Irving Hwang, James A. Naifeh, Anthony J. Rosellini, Nancy A. Sampson, Michael Schoenbaum, Alan M. Zaslavsky, Ronald C. Kessler

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examined the associations between mental disorders and suicidal behavior (ideation, plans, and attempts) among new soldiers using data from the New Soldier Study (NSS) component of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS; N = 38,507). Most new soldiers with a pre-enlistment history of suicide attempt reported a prior mental disorder (59.0%). Each disorder examined was associated with increased odds of suicidal behavior (ORs = 2.6-8.6). Only PTSD and disorders characterized by irritability and impulsive/aggressive behavior (i.e., bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) predicted unplanned attempts among ideators. Mental disorders are important predictors of pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers and should figure prominently in suicide screening and prevention efforts.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	588-599
Number of pages	12
Journal	Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Volume	45
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12153
State	Published - Oct 2015
Externally published	Yes

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10.1111/sltb.12153

Cite this

Nock, M. K., Ursano, R. J., Heeringa, S. G., Stein, M. B., Jain, S., Raman, R., Sun, X., Chiu, W. T., Colpe, L. J., Fullerton, C. S., Gilman, S. E., Hwang, I., Naifeh, J. A., Rosellini, A. J., Sampson, N. A., Schoenbaum, M., Zaslavsky, A. M., & Kessler, R. C. (2015). Mental disorders, comorbidity, and pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers in the U.S. army: Results from the army study to assess risk and resilience in servicemembers (Army STARRS). Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 45(5), 588-599. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12153

@article{544bbe3bb28e4c5393910dadd3c8673a,

title = "Mental disorders, comorbidity, and pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers in the U.S. army: Results from the army study to assess risk and resilience in servicemembers (Army STARRS)",

abstract = "We examined the associations between mental disorders and suicidal behavior (ideation, plans, and attempts) among new soldiers using data from the New Soldier Study (NSS) component of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS; N = 38,507). Most new soldiers with a pre-enlistment history of suicide attempt reported a prior mental disorder (59.0%). Each disorder examined was associated with increased odds of suicidal behavior (ORs = 2.6-8.6). Only PTSD and disorders characterized by irritability and impulsive/aggressive behavior (i.e., bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) predicted unplanned attempts among ideators. Mental disorders are important predictors of pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers and should figure prominently in suicide screening and prevention efforts.",

author = "Nock, {Matthew K.} and Ursano, {Robert J.} and Heeringa, {Steven G.} and Stein, {Murray B.} and Sonia Jain and Rema Raman and Xiaoying Sun and Chiu, {Wai Tat} and Colpe, {Lisa J.} and Fullerton, {Carol S.} and Gilman, {Stephen E.} and Irving Hwang and Naifeh, {James A.} and Rosellini, {Anthony J.} and Sampson, {Nancy A.} and Michael Schoenbaum and Zaslavsky, {Alan M.} and Kessler, {Ronald C.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 The American Association of Suicidology.",

year = "2015",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1111/sltb.12153",

language = "English",

volume = "45",

pages = "588--599",

journal = "Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior",

issn = "0363-0234",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

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Nock, MK, Ursano, RJ, Heeringa, SG, Stein, MB, Jain, S, Raman, R, Sun, X, Chiu, WT, Colpe, LJ, Fullerton, CS, Gilman, SE, Hwang, I, Naifeh, JA, Rosellini, AJ, Sampson, NA, Schoenbaum, M, Zaslavsky, AM & Kessler, RC 2015, 'Mental disorders, comorbidity, and pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers in the U.S. army: Results from the army study to assess risk and resilience in servicemembers (Army STARRS)', Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, vol. 45, no. 5, pp. 588-599. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12153

Mental disorders, comorbidity, and pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers in the U.S. army: Results from the army study to assess risk and resilience in servicemembers (Army STARRS). / Nock, Matthew K.; Ursano, Robert J.; Heeringa, Steven G. et al.
In: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, Vol. 45, No. 5, 10.2015, p. 588-599.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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AU - Nock, Matthew K.

AU - Ursano, Robert J.

AU - Heeringa, Steven G.

AU - Stein, Murray B.

AU - Jain, Sonia

AU - Raman, Rema

AU - Sun, Xiaoying

AU - Chiu, Wai Tat

AU - Colpe, Lisa J.

AU - Fullerton, Carol S.

AU - Gilman, Stephen E.

AU - Hwang, Irving

AU - Naifeh, James A.

AU - Rosellini, Anthony J.

AU - Sampson, Nancy A.

AU - Schoenbaum, Michael

AU - Zaslavsky, Alan M.

AU - Kessler, Ronald C.

PY - 2015/10

Y1 - 2015/10

N2 - We examined the associations between mental disorders and suicidal behavior (ideation, plans, and attempts) among new soldiers using data from the New Soldier Study (NSS) component of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS; N = 38,507). Most new soldiers with a pre-enlistment history of suicide attempt reported a prior mental disorder (59.0%). Each disorder examined was associated with increased odds of suicidal behavior (ORs = 2.6-8.6). Only PTSD and disorders characterized by irritability and impulsive/aggressive behavior (i.e., bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) predicted unplanned attempts among ideators. Mental disorders are important predictors of pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers and should figure prominently in suicide screening and prevention efforts.

AB - We examined the associations between mental disorders and suicidal behavior (ideation, plans, and attempts) among new soldiers using data from the New Soldier Study (NSS) component of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS; N = 38,507). Most new soldiers with a pre-enlistment history of suicide attempt reported a prior mental disorder (59.0%). Each disorder examined was associated with increased odds of suicidal behavior (ORs = 2.6-8.6). Only PTSD and disorders characterized by irritability and impulsive/aggressive behavior (i.e., bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) predicted unplanned attempts among ideators. Mental disorders are important predictors of pre-enlistment suicidal behavior among new soldiers and should figure prominently in suicide screening and prevention efforts.

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